FORMAL NOTE TO MY LOVELY READERS Being the daughter of an important person like Jason Rodrigues was no easy feat… at least that was what everyone thought whenever they looked at Camilla Rodrigues. They thought that she had it all and there was nothing in the world that would ever change that. Camilla on the other hand wanted something more than the title of her father. She loved him, never forget that but she also wanted something more for herself that did not involve his name and his title. She walks into a room and everyone whispers… they are nice to her because they all want something from her father and they think she is in the right place to put in a good word for them. She had no friends… who would want to be friends with the daughter of a billionaire with no strings attached? It just wasn’t possible. Camilla wanted more and that was what drove her into the hands of Nathan Clark, her father’s only competitor. Nathan was everything that her father disliked and even more so,
CHAPTER ONECAMILLA“You did what?” My father snapped, rising to his feet.I remained seated but twirled my fingers; I knew he wasn’t going to be happy with what I had done but the contract had already been signed and there was nothing he could about it at the moment if he did not want the full brunt of the media upon our family.Nathan Clark was his sole competitor and I had just gone to strike a deal with the man to work for him in exchange for the knowledge I could offer about the business.“What are you talking about, Camilla?” My mother, Elizabeth asked.She too was present as I spoke to my father about what I had done.“I have decided to work for Mr Clark and he and I have come to an agreement. I am informing you both about this so you are in the know should in case the media gets a whiff of the news” I told them“You have got to be fucking kidding me, Camilla. You cannot do that; you know very well how much of a strong competitor, Clark is and you think this would benefit the f
CHAPTER TWONATHAN It has been a full two days since Camilla Rodrigues stormed into my office and propositioned me with her eyes flashing her her smile unwavering and i found it disturbing that I was still thinking about her.She was daring and quite frankly stupid if you asked me.There was no way I would understand why she was doing what she was doing and even when she had mentioned she wanted something of her own…That was understandable if I could prove to myself that she knew exactly what she was talking about.To me, this was just some case of a rich, spoilt brat who is apparently bored with her life and seeking some sort of fun and entertainment.I am going to teach her what fun was and I was sure that she wouldn’t last a week in my company.I smiled at this, already envisioning the things I was going to do to the little Rodrigues. She had to know that there will be no daddy to cry to by the time I was done with her.It was in this state that my best friend, Christian met me.
CHAPTER THREECAMILLA“My Dad phoned you? I am so sorry about that. I promise I will speak to him” I said for the second time, feeling unease and a slight hint of embarrassment.I had not expected my dad to take the idea of me working for his competitor lying low but calling the man?“Don’t worry, I already handled it. I am only phoning you to be sure Daddy has not succeeded in changing your mind”“My mind is not changed. I want to work for you” I counteredNathan paused for a second before he continued speaking.“Then you are to resume your duties tomorrow. Do not think I will go easy on you because you are some rich heiress and neither will my people… in fact, they are going to eat you up by the time you are introduced to them” He warnedWas he worried about me? I thought to myself and then shook my head to clear out such thoughts.He was just telling me what to expect nothing more.“I don’t expect anyone to go easy on me; I am going to prove myself” I reassured him.“That’s good to
CHAPTER FOURNATHAN“I want everyone to meet Camilla Rodrigues; she will be working here as from today till I say otherwise.” I announced when I was sure I had had everyone gatheredThere was a round of murmurs which I had sure been expecting before they all began clapping to acknowledge what I had said.This was one of the reasons I had made her my personal assistant… to keep her away from the ravenous wolves in my company and to also keep her close to me.She was something of a study and she intrigued me]“Thank you very much, Mr Clark.” She preened, smiling from ear to ear. “I am going to be doing my best and I hope to work exceedingly well with each and every one of you” She announced.Another round of applause before I sent them all to their duties.“Camilla” I nodded at her“Mr Clark”“Nathan” I corrected her again.She blushed, hiding her face away“Nathan” She whispered.I stared at her for longer than necessary not admitting to myself that I was committing her face to memory.
FIVECAMILLAI sighed in relief, my knees weak as I sagged into my chair.Okay, today was going well so far except for the…Coffee, I joltedHe had asked for CoffeeI scrambled to my feet, reaching into the drawer and pulling out the special brew he had mentioned. I had not asked him if he liked his coffee black but I could tell he did.It did not take long for me to get the coffee up and I walked slowly back to his office, pausing at the door and taking another deep breath.I rapped once, waiting for his response.“Come on in” The deep rumble of his voice came through.I pushed the door open, pausing for a second when I saw that he had put on glasses.Nerd, I thought to myself, resisting the urge to stare.He was a sexy nerd with those glasses perched atop his nose and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to reveal corded muscles.“I did not ask if you wanted your coffee black” I explained as he accepted the cup from my hand.Our fingers touched and I bit back a yelp.“I like it black
SIXNATHANI was furious… I knew Ben had been a very wild card the moment I had decided to accept money from him for investments but to think he would dare.Of course, after all these years… I still had to prove myself to all of them.Rich snobs with nothing on their hands than money to spend and parties to attend. I still had to prove to them that I was worthy to walk toe to toe with them.It was upsetting enough after the untimely death of my wife and the reading of the will where she had given the company, there had been protests and investment pulled out because no one wanted to deal with a gold digger.They all though I had had something to do with her death and even her family contested the will in court but it would seem that my wife… bless her soul had made sure to make it loophole free. There was nothing they could do but accept the fact that I was going to be the new director and owner of the company.It had taken me years to get it off the ground and we were even now still
SEVEN CAMILLA Benjamin Cooper had mentioned something about taking his deal and investment to Jason Rodrigues in a bit to falter Nathan. Of course he had not idea he had been yelling vulgar words to the child of the said man and I would be damned if I allowed my father accept or even work with such a person. I grabbed my phone and placed a call to his direct line which he picked up on the second ring. “What is the matter, angel? I am in a meeting right now with a client.” He murmured into the phone. “Is this client by any chance Benjamin Cooper?” I asked “Are you keeping tabs on me for your new boss, little dove?” I could hear the mirth and also the question in my father’s voice. He wanted an explanation as to how I knew about his meeting and if he could trust me now that I was working for his competitor. “He used to invest with Nat… Mr Clark. I don’t know if he mentioned it?” “He did and he says Clark walked him out rudely because of something minor?” “Dad” I yelled. “He is
CAMILLAIt was useless feeling sorry for myself, I thought.The lighting in the club was low as I stepped in with my friend, Bella.“Not bad” I murmured.“Told you” She responded triumphantly. “This is what you need to get over him. Nathan Clark is an asshole and should dump him in the dust where he belongs”I wanted to correct her that he wasn’t an asshole, he was merely disturbed but I did not.I was not here to sympathize with him or even think about him. I was here to have fun and that is what I am going to do.I was putting on a red dress and it complimented my eyes way more than I thought it would.“Come on, we should get a drink” Bella pulled me to the bar.The bartender winked at both of us and then asked what we would likeIt was at the tip of my tongue to say nothing but I was at a club, wasn’t I?“Sex on the beach” I announced.Bella turned to me, surprise in her eyes. I was pretty sure she thought she would have to force me to drink.“I would have the same” She told the ma
NATHANThere was nothing to say as I dropped Camilla off at her home.I waited until I was sure she had gotten in before I headed in the direction of my mother in law’s house.I pushed in Christian’s number, my teeth gritting as it rang.I was furious.I did not want to admit I was more furious at myself than anything.“How did your date go?” Christian’s asked as soon as the phone line clicked.“Send me the name of the witness” I grunted.“What is wrong?”“Send the name, dammit”“You need to calm down, Nathan. Where are you going?”“To settle this once and for all” I told him. “Now send the damned number to me”I hung up before he had the chance to say anything or convince me to back away because I would not.I drove way above the speed limit, stopping only when I had gotten to the mansion’s gate.It brought back memories of family dinners where I had to defend Eleanor over and over again. Where snide remarks about the reason I was with her reached my ears and she said nothing about
CAMILLA“I did not think I was ever going to see you again, Camilla” Sarah smiled as soon as I entered the restaurant.She wagged a finger in Nathan’s direction, shaking her head at him.“With the kind of food you sell? I will be coming in here for a very long time” I smiled back.Nathan and I took our seats and waited.She had a queue as usual and I could not help the smile as I glanced around.“You would have watched your father kill me” Nathan commented.“I admit that would have made me feel better for a bit” I told him.He appeared shocked but I could tell from the way his eyes twinkled with delight that he thought it hilarious.I had not expected he would go over to my parent’s house especially seeing as I wasn’t there in the first place.My father however had called me when he arrived with a gun to his head and asked if I wanted to see him. I had hesitated just for the fun of it“I deserved that”“Yes you did” I agreed.“Thank you for coming here with me”I nodded once.Sarah dr
NATHANI was pacing like a fucking clown.I was expecting Camilla at the office today to discuss the project that we were involved in together and I could not help the restlessness coursing through my body.I wasn’t one to be this nervous about anything.“Deep breaths” I told myself, trying to go along with my instructions but to no avail.So much so that when my receptionist announced her presence, I had worked myself into a frenzy.My breath caught in my throat as she walked in, her eyes taking the room before settling on me with stark clarity.What had I been thinking? I thought.Starved of attention?Who was the blithering idiot now?“You look well” She commented, taking the seat in front of me.“You look beautiful” I murmured.She paused, her eyes meeting mine.Sparks flew, that was for sure.“How do you feel?” She asked instead.“Much better. Thank you for attending to me yesterday. For even accepting the phone call from me”“Of course, I am not a demon even though I do hate you
CAMILLAI stared at my ringing phone with Nathan displayed boldly as the callers ID.What the fuck did he want?I however put it to my ear, my heart jumping at the sound of his voice“Camilla, I know you can hear me” He rasped“What do you want?” I asked.“To talk” He answered.His voice appeared tortured… like there was something wrong with him and for a minute I was concerned before my head overrode my stupidity.“Concerning the project-” I began“Not concerning the-” He sighed, his voice trailing off.“I need you” He muttered softly that if I had not been paying attention, I would have missed that simple statement.“Mr Clark” I stopped when I heard his labored breathing.“Is something wrong with you?”“No, its nothing… I just need to speak with you”“Nathan, what is the matter? You sound distressed”He chuckled and then I heard him cough in the background“You are not concerned about me now, are you?”“This is not a joke, what is wrong with you?” I asked again, feeling panicky.He
CAMILLAMy father drove us straight to the house and I did not argue nor say anything when we arrived and my mother enveloped me in a hug.“Oh baby” She crooned.“I am okay” I reassured her“Come on in”I inhaled the familiar scent of home, my muscles relaxing.“I am going to bed” I announced.Their words fell over themselves as they agreed immediately to my request.My eyes closed as soon as I fell on the bed. I did not want to think of anything, I did not want to begin to analyze the anger in my heart directed at one person in particular.When I finally opened my eyes, it was noon.I made my way downstairs and was met with the searching eyes of both my parents.“Are you okay, baby?” My mother asked.I took a seat beside them.“I am not some fragile child you have to be worried about always, mother” I said.“You are my child and I have every reason to be worried about you” she countered.“I am going to be fine” I told her.My father said nothing but I turned to him anyways.“I have d
NATHANI felt like an absolutely horrible beast or maybe that was what I wasStarved of attention?If there was anything, I would admit that I have been the one acting like a starved and crazed person anytime she was near.I had only said that to infuriate Rodrigues, her father more than he already was.I did not stop to think that she might be listening in or it was the worst thing to say about a girl I have come to like.I winced, rolling my tongue in my mouth as the pain from being punched in the face kicked in.Williams walked into the open room with surprise on his face.”What happened?” He asked immediately.“It is over” I told him, my voice unbelievably calm.“What have you done, Clark”I whirled at him with anger in my eyes“What makes you think I am the one at fault? You are the reason everything has gone to fucking shit” I barraged him. “What did you think was going to happen when you decided to invite Rodrigues and I?”I took a deep breath envisioning Camilla’s disapproving
CAMILLA“We really need to talk” I heard Nathan whisper from behind me.“I have nothing to speak to you about. Are you ready?” I asked him.“I am but-”“Then we should leave to the bar”I turned to look him over, angry at the flutter in my chest and the way my whole being appreciated his looks.He had jeans on and I never thought anyone would look absolutely stunning in them and there was the shirt he was wearing which was rolled up to his elbows, giving free view of his tattoos.I stilled my panicked heart, turning back around and taking a step before he stopped me with a hand on my arm.“I want to apologize for the things I did earlier. It was mean of me to try to take away the seriousness of your feelings and I am sorry. I should be a better person than that” He had a contrite look on his face as he said this.“I am not mad at you, Nathan” I lowered my voice. “I just feel I am more invested in this business than you are and I need you to be professional and take it seriously”He no
CAMILLAWhat had I been expecting?A profession of love?I knew the sort of person Nathan was… a hard man and I had thought maybe I would be able to get through to him and why?Because I found him intriguing? Because I loved his view on life or is it because I wanted to do all I could to get out of my father’s shadow.No, that is wrong.Nathan Clark might have been my ticket out but I had come to understand and admire him as an individual.He was a fighter that much was obvious but he was also an asshole.I locked the adjoining door as soon as he left, leaning against it with the tears stinging the corner of my eyes.Another knock“Camilla” My father’s voice came through.“Give me a minute” I called out.I stared at myself in the mirror, running my fingers through my hair.When I opened the door, my father knew immediately that something was wrong.“Are you okay?” He asked“I am fine” I responded. “I was just sleeping” I added so he did not ask any more questions.“I know we should ta